Re: Experiences/guidance on teaching Python as a first programming language

Path	csiph.com!v102.xanadu-bbs.net!xanadu-bbs.net!feeder.erje.net!eu.feeder.erje.net!newsfeed.xs4all.nl!newsfeed3.news.xs4all.nl!xs4all!newsgate.cistron.nl!newsgate.news.xs4all.nl!post.news.xs4all.nl!not-for-mail
Return-Path	<jeanpierreda@gmail.com>
X-Original-To	python-list@python.org
Delivered-To	python-list@mail.python.org
X-Spam-Status	OK 0.050
X-Spam-Evidence	'H': 0.91; 'S': 0.01; 'causing': 0.04; 'subject:Python': 0.06; 'plenty': 0.07; 'subject:language': 0.09; 'cc:addr:python-list': 0.11; 'python': 0.11; 'subject:programming': 0.16; 'do,': 0.16; 'wrote:': 0.18; 'cc:addr:python.org': 0.22; 'either.': 0.24; 'cc:2**0': 0.24; 'subject:/': 0.26; 'header:In-Reply-To:1': 0.27; "doesn't": 0.30; 'dec': 0.30; 'especially': 0.30; 'message-id:@mail.gmail.com': 0.30; 'stuff': 0.32; 'knowledge': 0.35; 'done.': 0.35; 'received:google.com': 0.35; 'level': 0.37; 'minimum': 0.38; 'pm,': 0.38; 'bad': 0.39; 'how': 0.40; 'problems.': 0.60; 'world': 0.66; 'sound': 0.68; "today's": 0.70; '2:02': 0.84; 'bare': 0.84; 'ethan': 0.84; 'furman': 0.84; '2013': 0.98
DKIM-Signature	v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20120113; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:from:date:message-id:subject:to :cc:content-type; bh=XdYeCBr2qWc4M7Xkj5CK9xehGACQ/6wQfHs0YNbtoZQ=; b=LdFJQ3kZSkCVgYNDUU84yqUc4iWIfWXvZgkw+/ICU+XPrfUrVPsNEexgGeLsgHARwF Jk0/W0O02E9BywMllvonhAvtLksGuQ2K9mz6RsEuehzXYE3nUBMljbiiwm0fdgupBmBC 3wc9aomIrybFQSvlmcgUiVQA9vhXLHbGmIi9NZINUz29T5gaR8v0QWfw9bau4hLtw7pj dtSoPrdv8iw6HuqqV1XbrjKeF+QxbCnDs6DxqvRpF25eaLvd6BivKkSUrCnkX2bg/Nw0 VhUAkTG18ucYbUSAewIluZUW0NUpXx5tLVHsD5fl0s9Rgw/prF7dZY0ij2aFmMUYksNv e6zw==
X-Received	by 10.49.127.101 with SMTP id nf5mr229109qeb.61.1386750890280; Wed, 11 Dec 2013 00:34:50 -0800 (PST)
MIME-Version	1.0
In-Reply-To	<52A78F6F.3060507@stoneleaf.us>
References	<CAHVvXxS23g8dxO23pPTmXLo0z=QzJY_CjwMUtJcvAVfRhZa8bA@mail.gmail.com> <201312090824.25211.gheskett@wdtv.com> <52A78F6F.3060507@stoneleaf.us>
From	Devin Jeanpierre <jeanpierreda@gmail.com>
Date	Wed, 11 Dec 2013 00:34:10 -0800
Subject	Re: Experiences/guidance on teaching Python as a first programming language
To	Ethan Furman <ethan@stoneleaf.us>
Content-Type	text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Cc	"comp.lang.python" <python-list@python.org>
X-BeenThere	python-list@python.org
X-Mailman-Version	2.1.15
Precedence	list
List-Id	General discussion list for the Python programming language <python-list.python.org>
List-Unsubscribe	<https://mail.python.org/mailman/options/python-list>, <mailto:python-list-request@python.org?subject=unsubscribe>
List-Archive	<http://mail.python.org/pipermail/python-list/>
List-Post	<mailto:python-list@python.org>
List-Help	<mailto:python-list-request@python.org?subject=help>
List-Subscribe	<https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list>, <mailto:python-list-request@python.org?subject=subscribe>
Newsgroups	comp.lang.python
Message-ID	<mailman.3871.1386750898.18130.python-list@python.org> (permalink)
Lines	12
NNTP-Posting-Host	2001:888:2000:d::a6
X-Trace	1386750898 news.xs4all.nl 2936 [2001:888:2000:d::a6]:54222
X-Complaints-To	abuse@xs4all.nl
Xref	csiph.com comp.lang.python:61533

Show key headers only | View raw

On Tue, Dec 10, 2013 at 2:02 PM, Ethan Furman <ethan@stoneleaf.us> wrote:
> Doesn't sound like they do, as that's causing plenty of problems.  In
> today's world that level of knowledge isn't always necessary, especially if
> your degree is not in CS.  One of the (many) nice things about Python is one
> doesn't need to know that stuff to Get Things Done.

You don't need to know how to use the brakes to drive to Wal-Mart,
either. "Get Things Done" is not the one and only goal. It ignores
productivity, correctness, ethics... It isn't a bad thing to learn
things that are unnecessary to get the bare minimum accomplished.

-- Devin

Back to comp.lang.python | Previous | Next | Find similar | Unroll thread

Thread

Re: Experiences/guidance on teaching Python as a first programming language Devin Jeanpierre <jeanpierreda@gmail.com> - 2013-12-11 00:34 -0800

csiph-web